i don’t know, i don’t know…

While perusing Barnes and Noble a few months ago, I spotted “What is the What” by Dave Eggers. I remembered reading what the New York Times Book Review had to say, and it sounded promising. I don’t really enjoy buying hardcovers and thus I put off the purchase for a while. I was pleased to see it finally out in softcover.

“What is the What” is the epic story of young Valentino Deng who was forced to escape his country of Sudan after a civil war broke out. He is joined by thousands of his peers known as The Lost Boys in his journey. The boys walk to Ethiopia, back to Sudan, and then to Kenya before many of The Lost Boys were finally taken out of the refugee camps by the UN and brought to the United States and other countries willing to take the young men (and women). Valentino, who actually goes by several names in the book, narrates the story of his plight in Africa while struggling and suffering in present day America as a fish out of water. It’s a simultaneously comical and depressing story because Valentino is able to keep his sense of humor despite his awful experiences. It should come as no surprise that many characters die. In fact, one of the major themes of Valentino’s story is that he believes that he is bad luck and everyone around him suffers because of it. At times I felt like I was playing Final Fantasy IV with people dying left and right.

The book didn’t change my life, but it did open my eyes to what is going on in Sudan. I would definitely recommend it to those interested in learning about the story of that country through a fictional account. There are actually several non-fiction autobiographies of The Lost Boys which is another option. Additionally, at times I felt myself forcing my self to get through parts. I didn’t get into any sort of groove with the book until after 300 pages, and that’s a significant amount to have to struggle through (though this could have to do with the fact that much of it was read while still in school). “What is the What” is one of those rare books that I think would be much more effective as a movie rather than a book because I think seeing what was described would be much more moving and powerful than simply reading about it. Check it out if the topic sounds appealing, but I wouldn’t say it is a must-read-before-you-die book.